Monday, November 19, 2007
Fekhie was born to a litter of five kittens on June 30, 1992, in a little house in Chandler Arizona. His mother was solid gray and his father was, like him, a color point. As a kitten, Fekhie had swirl patterns in his fur but they disappeared over time. He and his sister Arj lived in several different homes before moving in with us when they were four and a half years old. Two of his other sisters were already here, so we ended up with the four siblings.
When he first arrived he hid inside the couch for several weeks, pretty much destroying any rumors that he would become top cat. From then on he used one couch or another as his safety zone. He was happy though, always walking around with his tail held high. He even eventually developed the confidence to greet people at the front door. We tried to get him to wear a collar, but he would have none of that.
He loved to sleep and knead on the back of the couch, leaving a permanent cat-sized indent in the cushion. Being a bit shy, he also liked to hang out in the relative peace and quiet on the cool wood floor under the bed.
Fekhie wasn't a lap cat, but when we'd lay down with one of his favorite red fleece blankets he'd be all over us. He liked to be petted along his back and sides, and really enjoyed a good ear massage. He'd even rear up to our hands to tell us it was time for some attention. In return he'd rub his extra long teeth against our hands and arms, a slightly painful but clearly affectionate gesture. He would sometimes gracefully and sometimes begrudgingly accept a kiss on the top of his head. He had the silkiest fur ever.
When kneading, he often went in to a full four-footed tushie dance. It looked a little disturbing but it made him happy. This is when he purred the most.
When the mood struck, he would chase the tinsel birdie or the feather on a stick, or his best friend Loki with whom he'd play tag. More than anything, Fekhie enjoyed a good snuggle and a bath with his sister Arj.
He liked to pet people too, especially people with food. His favorite foods were Tender Vittles, deli turkey, and melted ice cream. When he was older, his food dish had to follow him around the living room to remind him to finish his dinner.
He had what we called a high pitched "girly meow", which he used whenever he was hungry, especially first thing in the morning. I should point out that we are not morning people, but he didn't seem to appreciate that fact. Other than his food call, he was very soft spoken.
As with most cats, he had many names... Fek'lhr, Fekhie, Fekhie Doodle, Fekhie of the Big Eyes, Sharptooth, Little Man, and many other permutations. His original name was Allegro, but I don't remember anyone actually calling him that.
Fekhie was sick for several years before we discovered he had cancer. He had ongoing diarrhea, and hyperthyroidism that was initially very difficult to control. He also had potassium and B12 deficiencies that required supplements. By the time we found the cancer it had already spread throughout his chest and was beyond treatment. We used prednisone to try and help keep it at bay and hopefully provide some pain relief. The a/d food was invaluable at this point. He willingly ate that long after regular cat food lost its appeal. He also continued to drink little servings of milk and have bits of turkey.
He was able to enjoy all of his favorite things until just days before the end. When he could no longer eat, we chose euthanasia. Fekie left us on the morning of November 17, 2007. He has rejoined the energy of the universe, whatever that may be, and he will be missed.
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